MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2011 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Dearing, Simmons, Clarke, Brown, Jackson (11th), Butler (38th), Davis, Fillingane, Frazier, Jackson (15th), Jackson (32nd), Lee (35th), Montgomery
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY "STATESMEN" FOOTBALL TEAM AND HEAD COACH RON ROBERTS FOR THEIR CO-CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE AND FOR THEIR EXCELLENT 2010 REGULAR SEASON AND NCAA SUPER REGION II CHAMPIONSHIP.
WHEREAS, after claiming a share of the Gulf South Conference Championship, the No. 19 Delta State University "Statesmen" Football Team received the No. 2 seed and a first round bye in the NCAA Division II Championship. Garrett Williams picked off two Kevin Clancy second half passes and L.J. Castile caught two touchdown passes to lead the Delta State University Statesmen to a 29-17 victory Saturday, December 11, 2010, over the Shepherd University Rams at Parker Field-McCool Stadium to claim the Super Region II Championship and to advance to the NCAA Division II National Championship in Florence, Alabama; and
WHEREAS, the Statesmen (8-3) made their third appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs in four years under Head Coach Ron Roberts. The green-and-white made back-to-back appearances in 2007 and 2008, including a quarterfinals finish in 2008. Delta State was 9-4 all-time in five previous playoff berths, including a magical run to the 2000 NCAA II National Championship; and
WHEREAS, the 2010 NCAA Division II Championship game on December 18, 2010, was a game of ebbs and flows, turnovers and miscues on both sides, and a game of tremendous defense and high-flying offense. In the end, Minnesota-Duluth made the key plays at the end of the game, making a second field goal, a 32-yard effort, as the clock expired to give the Bulldogs (15-0) a 20-17 victory over Delta State and the 2010 NCAA Division II National Championship. The Statesmen ended the season 11-4, while becoming the first unranked team to ever play for the NCAA Division II National Championship. The Bulldogs completed the 2010 season unblemished at 15-0, claiming their second national title since 2008; and
WHEREAS, Delta State University defensive back Garrett Williams, a 5-foot-9, 195-pound senior, was named to The Associated Press Little All-America Third Team. Williams, a fifth-year senior from Leland, Mississippi, leads the Statesmen this season with 115 tackles and 8 interceptions; and
WHEREAS, finishing the year as co-champions of the Gulf South Conference and playing in the Regional Final has some perks. The No. 18 Delta State University Football Team placed five players on the Daktronics All-Super Regional II Second Team. "All five of these young men are very deserving of this honor," Delta State University Head Coach Ron Roberts stated. "Everyone of them has played their hearts out this season for this team"; and
WHEREAS, the 2010 Delta State University roster is:
Trever Deed, RB; Dominique Davenport, CB; Blake Swain, WR; Rafael Mitchell, WR; Dwight Tillman, DB; Garrett Williams, N; Xavier Triplett, LB; Todd Bradford, WR; Ray Chisolm, WR; Hollan Fiu, LB; Micah Davis, QB; Tim Smith, WR; Maurice Moore, WR; Zak Mikel, QB; L.J. Castile, WR; Kevin Vye, QB; Ken Griffin, DB; Jared Turner, CB; Kenny Barnes, DB; Brett Butler, DB; Jerry Barnes, CB; Brandon Lucas, RB; LeDarrius Cage, CB; Trenton Warren, DB; Preston Felder, CB; Melvin Griffin, LB; Kelvin Boston, DB; Jamarcus Jackson, RB; Joe Jointer, RB; LeVon Floyd, CB; Kyle Van Ness, RB; Skyler Parker, S; Tyler Caldwell, P; Matt Dean, K; Clint Farrar, RB; Tyler Seau, MLB; Will Edgecombe, LB; Bill Hawkins, LB; Mitch Magloire, LB; Robert Hogan, LB; Matt Snyder, K; Willie Bradberry, LB; JeJuan McConnell, LB; Phillip Yandall, OL; Andrew Jones, P; Ryan Meehan, OL; Timothy Johnson, OL; Evan Shaw, OL;; Casey Cole Carver, OL; Alan Walters, RT; Travis Williams, DT; Jim Chappell, OL; Jake Zbydniewski, OL; Jamarious Beck, OL; Matt Melton, DT; Chase Sherman, OL; Darrell Leopold, C; Lamar Young, OL; Harrison Lauer, OL; Kendall Hunter, OL; Roman Brasfield, OL; Cameron Murray, DE; Darius Johnson, WR; Bill Franks, WR; Carlton Ollie, WR; Adam Garrity, WR; Jacob Sesma, TE; Chance Starkweather, DE; Dex Hopkins, TE; Dewayne Hopson, TE; Chance Dennis, WR; Reed Falkner, TE; Anthony Daniels, DE; Eljae Faoagali, DE; Joe Marshall, DT; Mark Hoskins, DT; David Williams, DT; Robbie Mayers, DT; Jeremy Henderson, DE; John Frieson, LB; Josh Hopstein, WR; and Michael Johnson, FB. The coaching staff is: Head Coach Ron Roberts; Greg Stevens, Offensive Coordinator/QB's Coach; Pete Golding, Defensive Coordinator; Chet Pobolish, Wide Receivers Coach and Special Teams Coordinator; E.K. Franks, Assistant Coach/Defensive Line; Travis Mikel, Assistant Coach/Offensive Line; Tyler Hennes, Graduate Assistant Football-Offense; Lardester Hicks-Green, Graduate Assistant/Linebackers; Brad Latham, Graduate Assistant/Offensive Line; Rod West, Graduate Assistant/Defensive Backs; Jason Wilkes, Graduate Assistant Coach/Defense; and Michael Starkey, Student Assistant-Football; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this tremendous season and play-off run by a group of student athletes who have brought honor to their university, their community and to the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Delta State University "Statesmen" Football Team and Head Coach Ron Roberts for their Co-Championship of the Gulf South Conference, for their excellent 2010 Regular Season and for their NCAA Super Region II Championship, and extend to the team, coaches, parents and sponsors our best wishes.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Roberts and the Statesmen Football Team, forwarded to Delta State University President Dr. John M. Hilpert and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.